Dimension Fracture by Corinn Heathers

basis, that sort of thing. And before you ask, no, I can't tell you anything about the case.”
    My mother chuckled. “I know, dear, don't start that shit with me.”
    “How's the little one coming along?” I asked Nicole, trying to simultaneously steer the conversation away from classified things which I couldn't talk about, and also attempt to defuse my mother's snark-bomb.
    “Quite aggressively,” Nicole replied, her expression calm and easy. For years my sister's wife and I didn't get along, but ever since Misaki revealed her true form, both Nicole and I pretty much decided it was time for a peace treaty. Our interactions over the past six months had been nothing short of pleasant in comparison.
    Misaki turned to Nicole. “Is it a boy or a girl?”
    “We told the doctors we didn't want to decide our baby's gender before they're old enough to tell us themselves,” So-yi explained, her tone gentle. My sister was infinitely patient with Misaki's occasional blunders regarding social and cultural issues, especially those regarding gender identity and gender roles. Six centuries of patriarchal programming wasn't so easily overwritten, after all.
    Misaki nodded. “Oh. That makes sense, since they were wrong about you.”
    She adapted quickly, though.
    “I can't believe how… big… it's gotten,” Misaki continued. “The last time I was here with Karin, there was barely even a bump and now—”
    “I can't believe it either.” Nicole's lips curved into a purely maternal smile as she rubbed her own swollen belly. “We're going to have a very big, very healthy baby. The doctors aren't wavering on the due date, either: the fourth of December.”
    I felt a not-so-pleasant chill. “That's Dad's birthday.”
    “Yeah,” So-yi murmured. Our eyes met; my sister's expression was unreadable and I wasn't even going to try and decipher how I felt about that. We both had a lot of conflicting emotions about our deceased father and that's putting it mildly.
    Our mother saved us both. “Karin dear, how about we discuss the wedding plans? You and the little fox have been engaged for over half a year now, but every time I try to talk about it you dodge the question.”
    “Mama, I told you already, we just want to have a small ceremony with just the family. It doesn't have to be anywhere special. We could even have it here, at So-yi's house.” I blushed faintly as I glanced at my sister. “Um, I mean, if that's okay with you.”
    “But this is your wedding , dear.” Mama finished her glass of soju cocktail and poured another; between my mother and Misaki, the pitcher was almost empty. “This is supposed to be the most special day for you and Misaki. If you're worried about the expense—”
    “Mama, no, I'm not worried about money,” I interrupted, trying to keep my voice calm and level. I sighed and looked at Misaki, silently pleading for help, but she gave me a look that told me in no uncertain terms that I needed to just get over my embarrassment and stop avoiding the question.
    “If money isn't the issue, why are you so insistent on having such a sparse ceremony?”
    “B-because I don't want Misaki to have to hide her ears and tail,” I blurted, avoiding the eyes of everyone at the table. I was acutely aware of two things: one, my cheeks were hot and flushed and two, Misaki had scooted closer to me and was now curling protectively around me.
    My mother glared at me. “If that's what the issue was, why didn't you just tell me that to begin with?”
    “Because she's an idiot sometimes,” Misaki answered without missing a beat, eliciting a gale of laughter from both my mother and sister. I opened my mouth to object, but it was no use. She was right, I was being an idiot and I could have ended this silly debate with Mama months ago if I'd just told her.
    “I don't want to look at our wedding pictures in twenty years and not be able to see my wife for who she really is,” I continued, not really caring that I was